I am already deep into Advent, but still want to share something special from our Thanksgiving Service this year. Ed Hillman, our chaplain, shared a prayer that he has found especially helpful. It is a version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book. He found it posted on the web by Keith Williamson, who recommended the whole New Zealand Prayer Book which was completed in the late 1980’s for the province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The book holds close to the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, but includes Maori texts in an integrated way, and is popular throughout the world-wide Angllican community.
For your prayer resources, here it is:
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be.
Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread that we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.,
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen
One of my favorite phrases is “Loving God in whom is heaven.” Another is “Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.”
I am interested to know if any of the phrases speak especially to you.
And now, Happy Advent!
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